When Are You Too Old To Be An Intern?
Posted by Melissa Carter at 7/6/2010 10:59 PM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: intern top shelf Adult Swim Bert Show Melissa
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: intern top shelf Adult Swim Bert Show Melissa
I have a professional job with a professional salary. That doesn't mean I don't want to learn new things, and in the beginning of a career you did that by becoming an intern. But how does someone in my position get away with acquiring a new trade without devaluing my resume?
That was the point someone made to me recently when I mentioned wanting to apply for an internship or part-time job at a company that has nothing to do with radio. Why? I'm a fan of what they do, and I simply wanted to learn how they do it in my spare time. But my friend let me know that by seeking out a job like that I would be going backwards and would never be taken seriously if I ever decided to transition my career to that company. At this point in my life, she explained, companies need to come to me since that would be the only way I would increase my salary.
So does that mean I can now only improve upon my Radio skills and nothing else?
That's not how my Mom, Millie Pete, handles things. Yes she was an art teacher for decades, but in her spare retirement time she has taken on new skills as a member of a band, jewelry maker, Tai Chi student, and poker player. All this while continuing to expand her original art collection. I see her continuously trying new things, even at 81-years-old, and I want to have that same desire. But I also don't want to have to wait until retirement to do it.
I got the bug when I worked with Hi Rez Studios on their video game, Global Agenda. Being able to see how a game is developed made me want to learn more, MORE, MORE about the geek world I only watch from the outside. I want to understand how Adult Swim chooses their shows and how they market them. I'd love to be able to walk in the doors of Top Shelf and understand which graphic novels make the cut and which do not. And since I've been part of NASA's first Tweet-up, and they're about to put my face in space, I want the bragging rights of being an employee of the space agency.
But according to my friend, approaching any of these interests would be a bad idea. I guess I wouldn't be cool if I went into any of these offices and applied for an internship. Or maybe the hiring manager would misinterpret my actions, thinking something must be wrong with either the radio station or my position at it. But it really is all about expanding my knowledge of things - and besides doing independent research online or at the bookstore - I don't know how else to do it.
Read about my role in Global Agenda.
Why don't you put your Face in Space?
Scenes from the Peachtree Road Race.
Dude. You're on the radio. Use that to your advantage! I say go for it--all of it. If you're passionate about something, you should take it as far as you can go. The end.
Unrelated--I used to be an art teacher. And I have a friend who works at Adult Swim. So I guess it IS kinda related.
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Melissa,
I don't think you are EVER too old to try new things or learn new things... and I applaud you for trying to expand your horizons to include additional interests outside radio... but here is the REAL problem... who will let you intern with them (okay, somebody might let YOU intern, because you bring publicity with you...) if you are not doing it for school credit or at the beginning of a career? Have you checked out the requirements to be a Q100 intern, for instance, lately, for "The Bert Show?" I checked into it once, and unless I'm mistaken, you have to get college credits for it to even be considered. I say if I am a hard worker, interested in learning something new, and willing to devote my time to being good at it for 3-6 months at no cost, why wouldn't ANYBODY want to have me?? But that's not the way the world works...
Lucky for you, you have an "in," with that studio. And I don't think it's a step backward for you at all. No different than Jeff taking a job for a short time for min. wage at a restaurant to decide before investing... explore ALL YOUR INTERESTS!! You only get this one life... live it to your fullest... And everyone who comes in contact with you will benefit... you are amazing!!!
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